The Colorado football program doesn't shy away from any chance it gets to show off its new digs.

This weekend, the Buffaloes will have a very important showing.

CU will host more than 20 players this weekend for junior day, which is an opportunity for players to see the campus on an unofficial visit. CU had a junior day for in-state players last month. This one will feature some in-state players, but will mostly showcase the campus to out-of-state players.

"It's huge, beyond measure," said CU co-offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator Darrin Chiaverini. "When you can get elite players around the country to come to your facility on an unofficial visit and see this place, even if they don't end up (playing) here, they go back and tell their friends, 'Man, you gotta go see Colorado; that place is unbelievable.' "

The 2017 recruiting class will be the first one in which recruits will have a chance to see the finished product in its entirety. Already, CU has drawn praise for having some of the country's top facilities.

Now, the Buffs are hoping to attract the top players.

"It's going to be a big weekend," Chiaverini said. "We have some really, really big names. I can't talk about them, but there's some really, really big names and I'm hoping we're going to have some big news this weekend."

NCAA rules prohibit coaches from talking about recruits before they sign letters of intent. Several players who are coming to Boulder this weekend are known, however.

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Among those coming to junior day is receiver Jaylon Jackson, a four-star recruit from Cedar Hill, Texas. Jackson will have at least one Cedar Hill teammate with him, as cornerback Caleb Lawton will make the trip. Their teammate, Camron Buckley, who is a four-star receiver, might be on the trip

The Buffs were also interested in Cedar Hill quarterback Avery Davis, but Davis recently committed to Notre Dame.

Tyler Lytle, one of the top pro-style quarterbacks in the 2017 class, will be in Boulder. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Lytle is a three-star recruit from Anaheim, Calif., and he's got scholarship offers from half the schools in the Pac-12.

In addition, DeSoto High School in Texas will be sending several players to junior day, led by offensive lineman Xavier Newman. CU was the first school to offer a scholarship to the 6-foot-4, 285-pound Newman, but he's now got offers from 20 schools and is quickly being recognized as a top lineman in the 2017 class.

When the Buffs held a junior day last month, two top in-state recruits - Jonathan Van Diest and Dante Sparaco of Cherry Creek - gave verbal commitments to the Buffs. Chiaverini would love to get a couple more verbal commits this weekend.

"It's huge, and nowadays in college football, recruiting is so sped up," he said. "You don't even get to the point where you get them (to commit) on official (visits). These kids commit before June. I can't tell you how important it is to get these kids up here. If a couple guys end up (committing), it sends a big shock wave. I think it sends an important message to the top kids in the country to say, 'You need to go see Colorado.' "

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